Manu, P; Poghosyan, A; Agyei, G; Mahamadu, A M and Dziekonski, K (2021) Design for safety in construction in Sub-Saharan Africa: A study of architects in Ghana. International Journal of Construction Management, 21(4), pp. 382-394. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Design for safety (DfS) is an important mechanism for addressing accidents in construction. In the main, DfS studies have largely focussed on various regions of the world other than sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Through a questionnaire survey, this study investigated the DfS awareness and practice among architects in the Ghanaian construction sector. Data analysis revealed that there is a low engagement in DfS practice despite a high level of awareness of DfS among architects. There is a high interest in DfS training juxtaposed against a low engagement in DfS training. DfS practice is not associated with: awareness of the concept of DfS; engagement in DfS professional development training; receipt of DfS education; membership of professional body; years of experience in role and the company size. Concerted efforts by industry stakeholders, including clients, educational institutions and design professional bodies would be required to encourage the application of DfS among architects and other design professionals within the Ghanaian construction environment. Furthermore, more studies on DfS within the SSA context are required in order to profile DfS awareness and practice among design practitioners and other industry stakeholders within the region.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; design for safety; Ghana; Sub-Saharan Africa; survey |
| Index terms: | practitioner, survey, Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana, architect, design for safety, professional development, construction sector, data analysis, questionnaire |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, practitioner, Geography, data analysis and analytics, physical geography and landforms, health safety and environment, profession, data collection methods, professional development |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Research Practice, Information Management, Geographical Context, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here